The Angolan Air Force will in May this year take delivery of another two Su-30K combat aircraft from Russia, having already received six out of an order for 12 of the refurbished second hand aircraft.

This emerged during the visit to Russia by Angolan President João Lourenço on 3 April, who was in Moscow for the Russian-Angolan business forum.

Angolan Defense Minister Salviano de Jesus Sequeira told Sputnik that another two Su-30K fighters are contractually obliged to be delivered in May.

“Angola has always had good military cooperation with Russia, within the framework of our contract we have already received six Su-30K aircraft and…we hope that the other two will be delivered to Angola at the end of May,” he said.

Angola received its first two Su-30Ks in September 2017, with four spotted in satellite imagery in October 2018. It ordered 12 Su-30K fighters during a visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin to Luanda, Angola, in October 2013. Deliveries were originally anticipated around 2015 but delayed due to upgrade work – according to ITAR-TASS, modification work includes improvements to the radar and navigation system and installation of a video recorder, amongst other items.

The aircraft were formerly operated by the Indian Air Force, which has ordered more than 200 Su-30MKIs in a number of batches. The early models delivered were basic aircraft without features like canards and thrust vector controls, and it is these 18 early model aircraft (ten Su-30MK and eight Su-30K fighters delivered between May 1997 and December 1999) that were returned to Russia and replaced with more advanced Su-30MKIs.

India had intended to upgrade these early aircraft but instead used them as part-exchange for new aircraft. They were retired in 2006 and sent to the 558th Aircraft Repair Plant at Baranovichi in Belarus between August and November 2011 as the property of Irkut Corporation. They were subsequently overhauled and upgraded.

The Su-30Ks will augment around half-a-dozen Su-27s, out of 18 originally delivered. These aircraft serve with the 13th Fighter Squadron, part of the 25th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kuito Air Base.

Whilst in Russia, Angola’s defence minister was asked if Russia plans to acquire S-400 air defence systems. He said that although the southern African nation is interested in the systems, “at present due to the economic crisis in Angola, which is quite serious, we do not have negotiations on this.”

On the aviation side, Angola is believed to be getting K-8 Karakorum jet trainers from China, with photos emerging earlier this year showing one of the jets in Angolan Air Force colours. It is not clear when deliveries will begin or what quantities are involved.

The delivery of all 12 Sukhoi Su-30K fighters ordered by Angola has been completed, the Tass news agency reported on 16 May.

It cited an official from Belarus’ 558th Aviation Repair Plant, which modernised the aircraft, as saying the last two aircraft were delivered in April.

The Belarus official said that the modernisation had effectively brought them up to the Su-30SM standard with the ability to jam air-to-air missiles operating in 8–12 GHz frequency range and carry weapons that include the Kh-31A anti-ship missile, Kh-31P anti-radiation missile, and air-to-air class RVV-AE (export version of R-77) medium-range air-to-air missiles.

Angola’s Sukhoi order was first reported in October 2013 and the fighters have been seen in satellite imagery of Lubango Air Base since July 2017.

Arriving today, 21 August 2019, at Dhaka/Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Bangladesh) were two Xian MA60 transport aircraft destined for the Força Aérea Nacional de Angola (FANA, Angola Air Force).

Both aircraft have FANA titles and a Chinese ferry registration, one of them is B-00D9. The other is not known yet. The MA60s will be operated by the Esquadra de Transportes which is based at Base Aérea No.1 (Luanda/4 de Fevereiro).

The Xian MA60 is a turboprop-powered airliner produced by China's Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The MA60 is a stretched version of the Xian Y7-200A, which was produced based on the Antonov An-24 to operate in rugged conditions with limited ground support and has short take-off and landing (STOL) capability.

The National Air Force of Angola (FANA) has reportedly received an unknown number of Hongdu K-8 (Karakorum- trainer/light attack aircraft from China.

“The National Air Force of Angola (FANA) has now taken delivery of six Hongdu K-8W Karakorums. Another six are set to be delivered this year,” Alan Warnes, an aviation journalist, tweeted on May 23.

The acquisition was revealed after a K-9 jet with Angolan markings was spotted in an image being shared in China’s Weibo in March 2019. The aircraft had a cover over its cockpit and the leading edge of its tail had been removed, indicating it was either still under construction or getting ready to be shipped, Strategic Intelligence wrote last year.

In the same month, Scramble Magazine reported that Angola ordered 4 K-8s under a $52 million deal with China’s AVIC firm, with an option to buy four more.

The K-8 has a top speed of 800kmph. It is powered by Ukrainian AI-25TLK turbofan or a Chinese WS-11 (an AI-25TLK clone) engines developing 1680kg of thrust. Some export models are said to be powered by TFE731-2A turbofan developing 1600kg of thrust.

Maximum takeoff weight of the jet is 4470 kg and maximum range 2200 km. Export versions of the K-8 features Martin Baker ejection seats, a glass cockpit with head up display, multi-function displays and ability to carry PL-5E/PL-7 air-to-air missiles and a 23 mm gun pod.